July 12, 2004
-
Now that the dream is over,
must I wake?
The electric Strawbs, US lineup 2004, onstage at NEARfest
Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA — July 11, 2004
I didn’t attend this show — the last one of the tour — but believe me, I was there in spirit. This gorgeous picture was taken by Bill Knispel, another member of the Yahoo group “Progressive Music Society”
The following is part of a message I posted on the same group board:
… Now that it is over, and everyone heads back to their respective homes, with only the echoes remaining in our heads, I feel quite lost. This was such a long-awaited event, the re-forming of the H&H (Hero and Heroine — their most well known in the US and only “gold” album) lineup of Strawbs, plus the added bonus for me of meeting the band and other people associated with them.
And now it is over. They will start playing again in the UK with a different electric lineup (6-piece, the last few shows in which Brian Willoughby will be sharing lead guitar duties with Dave Lambert — plus the substitition of Ford, Hudson and Blue Weaver for Cronk, Coombes and John Hawken) for a brief tour in the UK, and then Cousins, Cronk, and Lambert will be
back again in the fall as the new acoustic lineup.
My passport and a duffle bag sit ready at my bedside, just in case my Fairy Godmother is out there somewhere and appears one evening to whisk me off to the UK to catch the Electric Strawbs’ UK lineup.
One can only dream, right?
The following was just one highlight of these magical concerts for me — it was never performed live until this tour:
Once I sat upon a hill
To watch the world go by
My friend the young magician
Had forbidden me to cry
But I was the comedian
With the laughs in short supply.
Shine on silver sun
Shine on everyone
Shine on silver sun
Shine on.
The sunlight filtered softly
Through the pale and watery sky
To catch the mirrored salmon
As it rose to take the fly
The flowers on the riverbank
Were left alone to die.
Shine on silver sun
Shine on everyone
Shine on silver sun
Shine on.
The church bells sounded midnight
As I rose to say goodbye
And a solitary tear
Fell from the corner of my eye.
Shine on silver sun
Shine on everyone
Shine on silver sun
Shine on.
Shine on.
– Shine on Silver Sun – D. Cousins; Old School Songs
–
it can be heard on:
Hero And Heroine, 1974; Side 1, Track 4
Best Of The Strawbs (2LP), 1978; Side , Track 7
Halcyon Days (2CD, UK), 1997; Side 2, Track 9
Comments (10)
I just read about the two people you knew who surcumbed to schizophrenia. It makes me thankful that I’m not like that. I’ve been schizophrenic all my life, but I’ve only been recently diagnosed. For me, it can be a gift rather than a curse. It drives my creativity and gives me a rich world of my own to be in. I have what used to be an imaginary friend, but I know now that it’s just a voice in my head. That voice has gotten me out of some pretty tough spots. Most schizophrenics have voices that cause them to do bad things, but mine often points me in the right direction.
I am supposed to ice 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off, but he said the swelling might stay for awhile. Ugghh. At least I am heading in some direction for getting all these problems fixed!
I wrote an interesting entry on my condition. It’s something you might like to read.
It’s been awhile since I’ve been to a concert. Hopefully, sometime this summer I can go to one.
Hello from Kansas !! LOng time no see !!! Wow, I had to back up and catch up……. you have been a busy girl !!! OH my , it has been forever since I went to a concert. OF course this girl, lived at Country concerts. Still have my entertainer of the year George Straight Jacket !!! heheh!!! Yes, way country !!! Hugs to you and hope all is going great in your corner of the world !! Rosie
Hey, there’s still room on the groupie bus–grab your things. heh
You’ve been having so much fun! And I do hope Fairy Godmother can see her way to let you get to the UK!
I’ve been working…and sleeping. Or working and not getting much sleep, but catching naps where I can, on some days and sleeping 12-13 hours on others.
It’s not the best for keeping up with Xanga…nor is the fact that my son is still at his dad’s and we play hit and miss with the phone and the internet. I’ll be glad when he’s home…then when school starts again, so we have some kind of routine. I’m seeing two new doctors and one of them has me doing physical therapy…all of this takes place during the precious daylight/sleeping hours, of course, and the docs are 165 miles away.
I am NOT complaining! …er…really…I think… I am so glad to be working, earing my own income, and I am thrilled that someone is actually trying to work with my back. The fact that I am sleep-deprived is well, just a nasty aftertaste, for getting what I wanted, I suppose…
Dang…Windows has updates I have to get, and we know how it interferes with anything one tries to do!
Much Peace and Love…GFW
Now, I have no idea who that band is…
Have to do some research tomorrow.
I *might* like it… Though my musical taste is broad yet not band-faithfull (to give an example: love Neil Young’s “a Maid”, but not so “Heart of Gold”… It’s an emotional thing. Some music stirs, some doesn’t…)
Really like those lyrics! I’m trying to imagine what the accompanying music might be like. That is a very good concert photo, too. I think it’s great that you are so enthusiastic about this band & their concerts. Many adults won’t allow themselves to enjoy something as fully as you do & it’s a shame.
On a more mundane note: there’s a new photo of Rufus on my blog.
Never cost a cent to dream…so dream on it may become reality
